Gun-elevating mechanism.



P. 'B'O'MINGHAUS- Y GUN BLEVATING MBGHANISM.

APPLI'GATION PILED'JAN. 14, 1910.

" lPatelfitec'l Nov. 25, 1913.

, lUNTTED *STATES PATENT oFFIoE.'

-FRANZ BMINGHAUS, or EssEN-oN-TEE-RUHR, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR To FRI-ED. KnUPr AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, or EssEN-oN-THE-,Runn GERMANY.

GUN-ELEVAT-'me 'MECHANISM- Patented Nov.'25, 1913.

Application led January 1.4, 1910. Serial No. 538,045.

To all whom t may concern:

Be 1t known that I, FRANZ BMrNGHAUs,

,f a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and

a resident of Essen-on-the-Ruhr, Germany,

have invented certain new and useful Im p'rovements in Gun-Elevating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

vThis invention relates to those gun elevating mechanisms in 'which two vdriving mechanisms independent of each other, are' provided for the movement of the 'gun barrel, both of which driving mechanisms are arranged upon a portion of the mount which does not partake of the elevating movementof t-he gun barrel, and one of which isadapted to impart a quicker movement than the other in transferring from the firing po-,

sitio-n to the loading position and vice versa.

In the known elevating mechanisms of this kind, a coupling is introduced in the drive in and out, is for various reasons, not very desirable in elevating mechanism for guns.

The present invention has for its purpose to provide an elevating mechanism of the premised kind, in which the use of engaging and dlsengaging couplings 1s dispensed with in the simplest possible manner. This purpose is attained according to this invention by a construction of'the elevating mechanism in which a member standing in positive connection with one of the driving members, together with one in connec-.ion with another driving member and one connected with the gun barrel constitute a closed kinematic train in which, when the member standing in positive` connection with one of the driving members is fixed "relatively to the mount, positive connection exists between that connected with the other driving member and thatrconnected with the gun barrel and the ratio of transmission of the enforced connection produced by the arrest of the one member is different from the ratio of transmission of the connection enforced by the arrest of the other member.

In the accompanying drawings :--Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of

the parts of the gun which are concerned with one embodiment of the elevating mechanism constituting the subject matter of this invention and provided with a sighting arrangement having an independent sighting line and Fig. 2 is a top view'lof the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, partly 1n section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1 (individual parts being omitted).

The slide-track carrier A, which carries the gun barrel B, is swingingly mounted in the mount C through the medium vof the v horizontal trunnions al (Fig. 1).

The elevating mechanism consists-of a toothed arc a2 rigidly connected with the slide-track carrier A, a gear Wheel a3 standing in engagement with said toothed are,

and two drives for the gear wheel a?. The

first drive consists, essentially, of a vshaft D carrying a hand wheel d1 and a worm (i2 (Fig. 1), a worm wheel el standing in enf gagement with the worm d2, and rigidly connected with al hollovsr shaft E, a ycone wheel e2, which is rigidly mounted upon the inner end of the hollow shaft E, the cone wheel g2, loosely mounted upon the arm g3 of the'shaft Gr which is coaxial with the hollow shaft E, and standing in engagement with the' cone wheel 62, and av con@ son wheel 1.4, which stands in engagement with Y the cone wheel g2, is formed in one piece with the gear wheel a3, and is mounted ro tatably upon the shaft Gr.

The second drive is constructed similarly to the first drive and consists of a hand wheel f1, a shaft F, a worm f2 (shown inv dotted lilies Fig. 2), a vworm wheel g1, the shaft G coaxial with the hollow shaft E, a cone wheel g2, a cone wheel e2 anda cone wheel (L4, The worm wheel g1 is rigidly connected with the shaft G.'

The two shafts D and F, as well as the coaxial shafts E and G, are carried in the manner shown in Fig-s, 1 and 2 by two housings cl and c2, which 'are rigidly connected with the mount.

The worm gears cl2, e1 and f2, glare designed with equal ratios of transmission, so that the shafts E and Gr must rotate with equal speed when the hand wheels l1 and f1 are rotated with equal angular velocity. Both worm gears are self locking. In consequence, the shaft G will remain at rest so long as the hand wheel (P alone is rotated. The cone wheels e2, g2, a4 act in this case like an ordinary bevel gear. Since this has a ratio of-transinission equal to 1, the gear wheel as engaging with the toothed arc a? .must rotate at the same speed as .the

l tates. If -onth e `.other hand, onlv the hand Wheel g2 revolves aboutjthexed cone-.wheel e2. The ,cone-wheels e2, g2, a* constitute in this ac ase, p arts ofa, planetary -gear and-according to knownf` laws of planetary gears",

with the present ratio of transmission ofv the wheels, they transmit the rotation of the hand Wheel.)cl tothe gear wheel a3 in such a manner, that the latter rotates twice ,as fast as the shaft G. Under otherwise equal conditions, it is thus thev gun barrel twice as rapidly through the I medium-of the hand wheel f1 as through the medium of' the hand wheel d1. v

' Outside of the-housing c?, upon one end of the shaft G is secured a drum g4, which is provided with a graduation g5 forthe adjustment of the. gun barrel to the elevation corresponding to the distance of the target;

the appropriate adjusting marker o3 being arranged upon the housing 02 (compare Fig. 2). On the other end of the shaft G is secured a cone wheel 96 whichserves vfor driving the sighting device.

The sighting arrangement, which is Well known and need therefore "only be briefly explained, consists essentially, of a telescope h1, a curved attachment bar H and the attachment box a5 (Fig. l) secured to the slide-track carrier A. The rear side of the attachment bar H is provided with teeth h2 in 'which engages a Worm 71,4 arranged upon a shaftV H3.` The shaft H3 is mounted in the manner shown in Fig. 1, upon the attachment box a5. The drive of the worm 71,4 is from the cone'wheel gs, which stands in engagement with the cone wheel gl. This cone wheel g7 is rigidly connected with the shaft GS, Which is mounted, in the manner shown in Fig. l, upon the housing c1. Since the shaft H3 carrying the Worm 11,4 is mounted on the shiftable slide-track carrierA and the shaft G8 is mounted upon'the fixed mount C, a jointed and longitudinally movable coupling is introduced between the two shafts in a known manner, which coupling vcomprises two universal joints J, J1 and two non-rotatable but longitudinallyr slidably connected shaft parts J 2, J 3.

The ratio of transmission of the drive of the sighting deviceA is so determined that the angle through which the attachment bar H is adjusted relatively.y to the gun barrely j j and theV j `cone w eel e? remain`l at rest While. the'cone ',niorer rapid rotation tothe ble-served by the loader.

ossible to move. i

In the use of the described arrangement,

In order tojdirect the sighting line upon the.target, theaimer rotates the hand Wheel d1.' '-"-It' is to be understood that at this time the hand wheel f1 remains at rest. A rotation ofthe Worm 71,? about its axis and therefore an radjustment of the attachment bar lH-relatively td the gun barrel cannot take place. takes of the rotation which is imparted to The sighting line, therefore, parthe gun barrel through thehand wheel d1, without changing the angle which it makes Withthe axis of the bore of the gun, and "thus retains its direction at the .target while the necessary lateral training'is imparted to the gun barrel simultaneously, if neces` sary.

After the lis charged, the loader, in

gun barrel, will order to bring the gun to an elevation corresponding to the distance of the target rotates. the hand Wheel f1 until the marks 'c3 points to the division of ,the scale g5 on the drum g4 which corresponds -to the distance of the target.

The rotation of the hand wheel f1 is transmitted through the shaft G through the medium of the cone wheels g?, gl, the shaft G8, coupling J, J2, J 3, J1, the shaft H3 and the worm gear h4, 11,2 to the attachment bar H and adjusts the latter in such a manner relatively to the gun barrel that the sight-ing line assumes the angular adjustment-relatively to the bore of the gun, corresponding to the distance of the target. Since, if the hand wheel {Z} remains at rest during the described operation, the 'gun barrel will rotate in the opposite direction from and through an equal angle with the attachment ba'r, the sighting line remains parallel and retains. its direction upon the target.

The transfer of the gun barrel from the loading to the firing position is accomplished as more fully explained above, with a comparatively greater speed.

, Heretofore, Afor the sake of 'clearness, it

vhas been-pointed out that one of V-thehand wheels d1 and f1 is always at rest when the other is being rotated. It is, nevertheless, a .fact that the aiming operation is in no manner disturbed if both hand wheels are served simultaneously. l

After the gun is aimed and tired, the gun barrel is again brought to the loading position by rotation of the hand wheel f1. This -movement takes place with a comparatively greater speed. The direction of the sighting line relatively to the target remains at this time undisturbed.

The described embodiment of the elevating mechanism constituting the subject 'matter of the invention, possesses the superiority stroy the efficiency of the driving gear.

It should'be further observed, that gun elevating mechanisms are known which have two independent driving means `arranged upon parts ot the mount which do not take part in the elevating movement of the gun barrel.- Likewise in these `known elevating mechanisms, Athe members which are positively connected, one with one of the driving members, another with another of the driving members and a third with the' gun barrel, constitute a closed kinematic train in which, after fixing one of the two driving means, as wellas the member of the train in connection therewith, a positive connection exists between the member connected with t-he otherdrivingineans, the member vconnected with the gun barrel, and a. member connected immediately with the fixed member of the train. The known elevating mechanisms of this kind, are distinguished from that constitutingy the subject oi' the present invention in thatthe ratio of transmission of the posit-ive rconnection which, by

the fixing of one of the two driving means, is produced between the 'member connected with the gun barrel and that'connected with the other' drivingV means, regardless of whether one or the other of the driving means are fixed, is always the same value. In consequence of this, the known elevating mechanisms preclude, imparting to ,the gun barrel through the action of one of the driving means the vmore rapid movement than through the action ot' the other driving means, under otherwise equal circumstances, as may be done with the elevating mechanism constituting the subject matter et the present invention. This advantage can be realized with the known elevating, mechanisins only under certain circumstances, for

example by introducing between the driving means and a member of the kinematic train standing in communication therewith, a special part for transforming it. into a quick driving spur gear or the like. In this case, it was necessary to take into consideration the above enumerated disadvantages, the overcoming of which constitutes an essential feature of the present. invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l'. In a gun elevating mechanism having two driving means independent of each other both arranged on a part ot the mount which does not partake of the elevating movements of the gun barrel; means whereby one of said driving-means, the conditions being otherwise equal, imparts a more rapid elevating movement to the gun barrel than the other driving means, constituting a closed kinematic train and comprising a part positivelyv connected to oneA of the driving means, a part positively connected to the 'other driving means, and a part positively connected to the gun barrel;

said kinematic train being adapted, when either of the driving means and the member of the tra-in connected thereto is held,

stationary, to establish positive connection between the member connected to the other driving means, the member connected to theA gun barre-l, and t-he member connected to the stationary member of the train; and the ratio of transmission to the gun barrel produced by said connections when the one driving means is held stationary being of different value `than when the other driving means is held stationary.

2. In a, gun elevating mechanism having two driving means independent of each other, `both arranged on a part of the mount which does not partake of the elevating movements of the gun barrel; means whereby one of said driving means, the conditions being otherwise equal, imparts a more rapid elevating movement to the gun barrel than thei'other driving. means, constituting a closed kinematic train and comprising a gear rotated upon a fixed axis by one of the driving means, a revolving member meshing with said rotated gear. and rotatable upon an axis which is revolved b v the other driving means about said tixed axis, and a gear driven by the revolving member having driving connection with the gun bai'- rel; said kinematic train being thereby .adapted, when either of the driving means and the member ot the train connected thereto is held stationary, to establish positive connection between the member connected to the other driving means, the member connected to the gun barrel, and the member `connected to the'stationary member of the train, and with a ratio of transmission to the gun barrel of different value when the one driving means is held stationary than when t-lie other driving means is held stationarv.

,3. In a gun elevating mechanism having two driving means independent of cach other but both arranged on a part ot 'the mount which does not partake ot' the ,elevating movements of the gun barrel; means whereby one of said driving means, the condit-ions being otherwise equal, imparts a more rapid elevating movement tothe gun barrel than the other driving means, consisting of a curved rack and pinion elevating gear,` and a planetary gear; said planetary gear comprising a driven gear-wheel rotating upon a fixed axis and rigidly connected with the pinion of the elevating gear, a driving axis, and positively connected to one of the driving m`eansand a bridging gear member l positively connected to the other driving equal, imparts a more rapid elevating move- .means, v and meshing with the said 'driving and driven Lgear wheels, wherebyafclosed kinematic train is established, adapted, when either of -the'vdriving means andthe-member,-

of the train connected thereto is held sta.- tionary, to establish positive connection between thev member connected `to the other'v driving means,I the member connected to the elevating gear pinion, and the member connected to the stationary member of the train, and adapted to vary the ratio of transmission to the gun barrel,.as one or the other of the driving means -is held stationary.

4. In a gun elevating mechanism having an elevating gear andl two'driving means independent of each other, arranged on opposite sides of the mount and upon va part thereof which does not partake ofthe elevating movements of the-'gun barrel and provided with means for locking them against rotation; means whereby one of said driving means, the conditions being otherwise ment to the gun barrel than the other driving means, comprising a cross-shaft driven by the more rapid driving means, 1planetary gear members loosely mounted on said crossshaft, connected respectively with the slower driving means and the elevating gear, and an army rigidly carried by said crossshaft, having journaled therein a bridging gear 'member meshing with both said loosely mounted gears.

5. In a gun elevating mechanism having an elevating gear, and two independent driving means arranged on either side of and upon a part of the mount which does not partake of the elevating movements of the lgun barrel; means whereby one of said driving means, under otherwise equal conditions, imparts a more rapid elevating movement to the gun barrel than theother driving means, constituting a closed kinematic train having three members positively connected with the two driving `means and the elevating gear, respectively and adapted, when either of the' driving means and the member of the train connected thereto is held stationary, to establish positive connection between the member connected to the other driving means, the member connected with ythe elevating gear, and the member connected to the stationary member of the train; and `the ratio of transmission to the gun barrel produced by said connections when the one driving means is held stationary being of different value Vthan when the other driving means `is held stationary.; and a sighting device located or. the side of the gun with the slower driving means.

an elevating gear, and ltwo independent driving means arranged on either; side of and upon a part ofthe mount Which. does V'not partake'of the elevating movements of the gun` barrel; means whereby one of said driving means, under otherwise equal conditions, imparts a more rapid elevating movement to the gun barrel than the other. I

driving means, constituting a closed-kinematic train having three members positively connected with the two driving meansandl 'the elevating gear, respectively and adapted, when either of the driving means-and themeinber of the train connected thereto is held stationary, to establish positive connection between'the member connected to4 the other ydriving means, the member connected with the elevating gear, and the member connected to the stationary meinber of the train; and the ratioof transmission to the gun barrel produced bym-said connections when the one driving means is held stationary-being of different value than when Lthe other driving means is held stationary; and a sighting device located on the side of the .gun with the slower4 driving means', mounted upon ain-elevating part of the gun, and having means impartin elevation adjustment to the sighting evice with positively driven connections with the faster driving means. l

7. In a Igun elevating mechanism having an elevating gear, and two independent driving means arranged on either side of and upon a part of the mount which does not partake of the elevating movements of the gun barrel; means whereby one of said driving means, under otherwise equal conditions, imparts a more rapid elevating move'- ment to the gun barrel than the other driving means, constituting a closed kinematic train having three members positively connected with the two driving means and the elevating gear, respectively and adapted, when either of the driving means andthe member of the train connected thereto is held stationary, to .establish positive connection between the member connected to tlie other driving means, the member connetted with the elevating gear, and the member connected to the stationary member of the train; and the ratio of transmission to the gun barrel produced by said connections when the one driving means is held stationvary being of different value than when the other driving means is held stationary; and

a sighting device located on the side of the gun with the slower driving means, mounted4 upon an elevating part of the gun, and having means imparting elevation adjustment to the sighting. device with positively driven connections with the faster driving means, saidv driven connections being adapted when the faster driving means alone is actuated,

tovadjust the sighting line simultaneously with but in oppositerdirections to the vgun barrel.

8. In 'a gun elevating mechanism having an elevating gear, and two independent driving means arranged on either slde of and upon a part of the mount which does not|` partake of the elevating movements vof the gun barrel; means whereby one of said drivingmeans, under otherwise equal conditions, imparts a more rapid elevating movement t0 the gun barrel than the other driving means, constitutin a-closed liinematic train- V having three mem ers posltlvely connected with the two driving means andthe elevating gear, respectively and adapted, when either of the drlving means and the member gun barrel produced by said connections when the one driving 'means is held stationary being of different' value than when the other driving means is held stationary; and

,a sighting device located onthe side of the gun :with the slower driving means, mounted upon ian elevating'part ot the gun, and

having means imparting elevation 'adjust-- Y ment to the Vsighting device with positively driven connections with the faster driving means, said kinematic trainl also' embodying fa' through transverse shaft, and said 'sight `)adjusting connections embodying a bevel gea-rat the end ,of said shaft and a telescoping exible shaft between gear and the-sighting device. t

:The foregoing specification signedat Barmen, Germany, this 24th" day of December, 1909.

FRANZ Bhme-HAUS. a. 8.3

In presence of- O'rro KNIG, CEAS. J. WRIGHT.

said bevel 

